Letters to the Editor

Since I didn't watch the conventions they didn't help me make up my mind about my vote for president. I also will not be influenced by the "debates" because I will not watch them either.

Serious consideration should be given to denying the vote to simpletons who are so shallow-minded and clueless that they are swayed by the clownish circuses masquerading as "conventions" and he worthless "gotcha" atmosphere of the laughable "debates."

Even more serious consideration should be given to developing and implementing intelligence tests for voters in order to prevent brain-dead ignoramuses from casting ballots. To those who would argue with this suggestion, what argument could you seriously put forth that would convincingly justify anyone voting for the likes of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, Pete Stark and any of the other sterling "statesmen" of the Democrat Party?

Lanny Middings

San Ramon

Conservative policy will be better for us

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When I was growing up in the Midwest during the '50s and '60s, my father often expressed the simple fact that conservative guiding principles create prosperity while liberal policies (championed by the Democrat Party) destroy prosperity.

Even though he supported his family as a shift worker and was a proud union member, he felt that these fundamentals were irrefutable and self-apparent. Despite the best efforts of our politically biased media to convince us otherwise, these tenets are as true today as they were 50 years ago.

Conservative values such as limited government, fiscal responsibility, low taxation, rewards for work, personal initiative, saving and investing and encouragement of free enterprise all lead directly to economic prosperity and rising standards of living.

On the other hand, liberal policies of ever increasing the size of government, irresponsible spending, higher and higher taxation, disincentives for work and investing, barriers to free enterprise and encouraging government dependence lead directly to economic decline and lower standards of living.

The choice in November is a clear one. Do we continue on the current path toward greater poverty and despair, or do we chart a new course toward a vibrant economy? The future of every person in this nation depends on how you vote. Please choose wisely.

Thomas Nelson

Danville

No on Prop. 32 -- voters should watch out

Proposition 32 masquerades as campaign reform. It is not enough that corporations can spend an unlimited amount of money to influence our votes through super-PACs.

They want to muzzle workers by not allowing payroll deductions for political purposes, crippling unions' fundraising efforts. Proposition 32 states that corporations can't use payroll deductions of their employees to fund political efforts either. The hope is that voters don't know that CEOs just write checks without consulting their employees.

It may be that it is known that this ruse will not work, but it definitely will siphon off resources that could support a worthy tax initiative such as Proposition 30, which will save our schools.

In general, there is an insidious attempt by the greedy to grab power. Associations like the American Legislative Exchange Council write laws for state legislators nationwide, laws which pads the pockets of ALEC corporate members. For too many CEO, lies, mislabeling and anything is fair game in order to dupe today's voters.

Eloise Hamann

Dublin

Letter was too wrong to believe

Joanne Smith's letter published Sept. 28 was so full of inaccuracies, it's hard to decide where to begin to refute it.

In the first place, she starts off talking about extremist groups in the Mideast and then abruptly switches to calling the Tea Party extremist! Then she launches into a bunch of accusations about the Tea Party, refusing to listen to facts. It is progressive/liberals who refuse to listen to facts -- when confronted by facts, they descend to ad hominem attacks rather than debate the issues.

It is apparent that Ms. Smith has NO knowledge of what the Tea Party believes -- all they want is for the federal and state governments to operate in accordance with the U.S. Constitution, as amended. What they want is maximum freedom for all, without the government attempting to run everyone's lives. The media does not, in fact, "kowtow" to the Tea Party -- a web search of articles favorable to the Tea Party versus articles favorable to the Occupy protesters shows how much they "kowtow".

Chuck Harding

Livermore

This election pits candidate versus party

For the first time in this nation's history the presidential election will not be between two men.

One of the candidates is unimpressive, an "oh, well" choice by his party. I believe, eventually, that party will find it necessary to suppress their candidate to a position of figurehead and to change the campaign strategy from "Vote Romney" to "Vote Republican." This will pit Barack Obama, a human, against The Republican Party, an entity. To make it easier for those so inclined to vote nonhuman, I suggest just check any listing that starts with R.

Thomas C. Lofgren

Dublin

Beware the peril of socialism

Wake up, my fellow Americans!

We are living in the most dangerous times in our country. I know from personal experience. Born in Germany during the war, I know the world of persecution, inflation, hunger, no jobs, no personal rights, no hope that things will get better.

Spinning propaganda, socialism is always a promise for a better life for the average guy, and for a while it might work. However, it boxes you in with limited opportunity, and it always makes you dependent on the government. Eventually government runs out of money, people lose their motivation to work and it breeds mediocrity. Look at Russia, Eastern Europe, or Greece for examples.

If you see pictures of Germany in the '40s you will see millions of Germans extending their right arm to Hitler. Do not think that can't happen here in this country. The president ignores the three-branch system and laws by executive order. Wake up; some laws have already been passed by presidential fiat, so we almost have a dictator.

I am asking my countrymen to come to their senses and vote for the man that believes in our country's Constitution, and bring honor back to presidency. For our children and our grandchildren, we need to stand up and unite our voices against those who give us false promises, daily lies and mounting debt.

Luise Menges

Livermore

First family lives the lifestyle of one-percenters

President and Mrs. Obama should lead by example. Together they have the biggest number of staff members and highest paid in history. Michelle has taken friends to Spain and relatives to Africa at taxpayer expense, and there are frequent costly family vacations. The use of Air Force One for campaign trips is excessive. Since they are part of the "one percent," I don't believe they should expect the rest of us to pay for so many of their expenses.